Frances Anastasi Darge, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with twenty-five years of experience. I work with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, eating issues, addictions, victimization, trauma, and loss. I am psychoanalytically trained, and I also use cognitive behavioral approaches, such as identifying and correcting undermining thought patterns and behaviors, as well as skills training when appropriate. I believe that most difficulties are related to our unconscious thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and the unhealthy defenses we develop, usually in childhood, to protect ourselves from hurt. Once helpful, but now outdated, these defenses can prevent self-awareness and the constructive resolution of our problems. These blocks to awareness can contribute to symptoms such as low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, interpersonal problems, eating issues, addictive behaviors, and the like. Together, we can identify your defenses, explore your true feelings, and help you develop healthier coping skills and a greater sense of well-being. In addition to my clinical work and training, I have 20 years of social work experience with men, women, and children in the foster care and domestic violence shelter systems. I have developed and managed shelters for abused women and children, and I have provided crisis intervention, counseling, court advocacy, psychotherapy, and parenting skills training. I have facilitated groups for men who abuse their partners, and I coordinated a supervised visitation program for families involved in custody matters.